Tori Spelling faces backlash from fans after charging $95 for virtual meet-and-greet

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Tori Spelling is facing backlash from fans after announcing a $95 fee to take part in her upcoming virtual meet-and-greet.

On Monday, the Beverly Hills 90210 actress revealed that she would be hosting the video chat event on 9 April for 20 fans.

According to Spelling’s Instagram post, the meet-up will allow fans to “take virtual selfies” with the actress and download a copy of the video call after.

“Can’t wait to do my first-ever virtual meet and greet Thursday, 9 April at 5pm PDT. Only 20 spots available so reserve your spot now,” Spelling captioned the post. “Link in my bio xoxo.”

To reserve a spot in the meet-and-greet, however, each participant has to pay a $95 fee.

The cost was met with disappointment and anger on social media, where fans criticised the star for charging so much during the pandemic outbreak, which has affected millions of people financially.

“Of course it's $95 because during a pandemic we all have that to spare,” one person wrote. “What a bummer…”

Another said: “Kinda insensitive and extremely tone-deaf. Millions of Americans are currently without a job, still awaiting unemployment and worst of all, many have lost loved ones already to this horrible pandemic.

“I get that you may also need to feed your family like every other American, but it’s shameful to charge almost $100 when your celebrity peers are doing FREE concerts and even chats.”

The criticism towards Spelling, who has a reported net worth of $500,000, comes after multiple celebrities have performed virtual concerts for fans who are quarantined around the globe.

The trend, which appears to have first started with Chris Martin from Coldplay, has included social media performances by John Legend, Pink, Charlie Puth, Hozier, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello and Mandy Moore.